Amusement device



Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

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PETER J. SW'OFFORI), OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AMUSEIVIENT DEVICE.

Application flied January 26,1924. serial no. caerse.

The present invention relates to an amusement device having for its principal object to provide a device which may be usedkby both young and old for amusement purpose and at thev same time affording them good healthy exercise.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of this nature which may be manufactured at acomparatively low cost and which will be durable and that is capable of withstanding considerable rough usage.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the descrip tion progresses, the invention resides incertain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of the device showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is another side elevation thereof showing the same on a more enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4. is section talien substantially on the line 4.-4. of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that A designates the resilient mem ber of the device and B the balancing member or frame of the device. The resilient member A is in the form of an iniiatable ball or spherical member consisting of a casing 1` preferably formed of leather or some other durable flexible material and a bladder 2 inserted within the casing and inflatable through the valve 3 which may be extended through a slit 4 provided in the casing l and which is closed by means of a cord or other suitable lacing 5. A pair of trunnion supporting plates 6 of 'concavoconvex construction are riveted as at 7 to the casing l. These plates are diametrically opposed to each other on the spherical member and are provided with the oppositely extending` trunnions or pintles 8. Journals or bearing blocks `9 are receivable on these trunnions 8 and are provided on their outer surface with spiral grooves.

A The balancing member or frame B consists of an intermediate U-shaped portion 10 terminating at its ends in coils 11 disposed in the spiral grooves of the bloCkS 9.V ArinS 12 extend from these coils 1l and terminate in handle members 13. Itis to be noted that the plane of the intermediate U-shaped per-v tion l0 is angularly disposed in relation to the yplane Vof the two arms 12 being preferably disposed at right angles thereto. The resilient spherical member A is, therefore, rotatable in the ybalancing member or frame B so that a person standing on the ball A and grasping the handles 13 may walk the ball or if desired may pull upwardly upon the handles so as to retain the ball rigid with the feet and the balancing member or frame and then jump and bounce along with the ball. Considerable amusement and exercise may thus be had from the device and of course it can be utilized in playing games and in various other amusing ways. \It is thought that the construction and operation of the device can now be readily understood without a more detailed description thereof. While the preferred embodiment of my invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction sert forth, since various changes in the form, material, proportions, and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or destroying any of its advantages.

I-Iaving thus Vdescribed my invention, what I claim as new is:

l. In combination, a resilient ball member,

a balancing member including a pair of journal bloclis, handle members fixed to said journal blocks, trunnions fixed to said ball member and projected through said journal blocks.

2. In combination, a ball member, trunnions projecting from said ball` member, a balancing member including a U-shaped intermediate portion terminating in coils, arms extending from the coils, the plane of the arms being angularly disposed to the plane of the U-shaped'intermediate portion, journal blocks receivable in the coils for receiving the trunnions.

3. In a device of the class described. a ball 'member having a pair of trunnions project ing therefrom and a balancing member including a pair of coils for receiving the trimnions.

4,. In combination, a spherical casing of ,flexible material? an. inflatable bladder, a pair .T FlilC-E pair of trunnions fixed to said casing, journal blocks on said trunnions, a balancing device fixedto said journal blocks.

In combination, a spherical member including a flexible casing and an inflatable bladder therein, trunnionsfixedto the casing, and a balancing device for reeving said trunnion.

6. In combination, aresilient-.ballmernbe1?,.

a balancing member including handles, journal blocks fixe-dtoone of said members, and trunnions fixed to the other member and projected through said journal blocks.

7. In combination, a resilient ball member, abalancingmember adapted toreceive the ball member, journal blocks fixed to `one of said members, and trunnions fixed to the other of said members and projected through said journal blocks whereby the resilient ball member is rotatably mounted in the balancing member.

8.V In a device oflthe class described, a re- Silient` ball member, and a balancing frame pivotally connected With the ball member, including;vertically extending side members adapted to provide lateral support for a person standing on the ball member, the said side membersV being connected to provide a rigid` frame adapted to swing` about` the transverse axis. of the ball.

ln testimony whereof I- aiiix my signature.

PETER J. SWOFFORD. 

